Machine for decorticating ramie



(No Model.)

W. T. FORBES. MACHINE FOR DEGORTIGATING RAMIE, &c. No. 480,084.

Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

WITNESSES: W

m Penn; 0a., morouruo wAsumuYau, u. c.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I/VALTER T. FORBES, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

MACHINE FOR DECORTICATING RAMIE, 80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 480,084, dated August2, 1892.

Application filed December 29, 1891- Serial No. 416.481. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER T. FORBES, residing at Atlanta, Fultoncounty, in the State of Georgia, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Decorticating Ramie, &c., of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention is an improved machine for decorticating ramie, hemp,jute, and similar growths; and the invention consists in a ma chinecomprisinga suitable frame and rollers journaled therein vertically oneabove the other and arranged as two pairs, one of the rollers of eachpair being geared to turn faster than its fellow, the rollers of eachpair being in contact and the fast-moving roller of the lower pair beingarranged in contact with the slow-moving roller of the upper pair, allsubstantially as more fully described hereinafter, whereby the fibrousmaterial to be treated will-be first subjected to the action of theupper pair of rolls, then to the action of the contacting rolls of thetwo pair, and then to the action of the lower pair of rolls.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 is a sectionalview.

In carrying out my invention I provide a frame, in which is journaledthe rolls 00' a a a, arranged in vertical series, as shown. The upperrolls a to constitute one pair and the lower rolls a a constituteanother pair, the rolls of each being in contact and the upper roll ofthe lower pair being in contact with the lower roll of the upper pair.The rolls a are smaller than the rolls a, and the small rolls are gearedto revolve faster than the large rolls, as will be readily understoodfrom the drawings. The rapid turning of one roller compared with theother causes the bark to slip from the wood, and the rolls being formedwith yielding surfaces, such surfaces serve to avoid the breaking andtearing of the fibers, and also by reason of such yielding property thesurfaces of the rolls operate better to produce the desired longitudinalslipping of the bark.

In practice'the fresh-cut ramie-stalks, which are green and suppliedwith leaves and contain considerable moisture, are run through theopposing rolls The natural gum which holds the bark to the woody part ofthe ramiestalk is ruptured by the action of the pressure and themoisture and permits the bark to be slipped from thewood.

It will be understood that the stalks are first passed between the upperpair of rolls, then between the lower rolls of the upper pair and theupper roll of the lower pair, and then between the lower pair of rolls,the bending and returning of the ramie being accomplished by hand orother suitable manner.

The rolls may preferably be of rubber with a metal shaft or core, orthey maybe of wood or iron covered bya sleeve of rubber or equivalentmaterial to provide the yielding surfaces desired.

The machine is simple and can be produced at small cost and in practicewill produce the ramie-ribbons, with incased fiber unbroken, rapidly andwithout requiring the leaves to be stripped from the stalks before theyare run through the machine.

The machine is conveniently portable and may be readily secured to abench or stand, its frame being provided with a clamp for such purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

The improved machine for decorticating ramie and similar growths,consisting of the frame and the two pairs of yielding surfaced rollsjournaled therein, the said rolls being arranged in a common plane andthe rollers of each pair being relatively one large and the other small,the rollers of each pair being in contact and the small roll of one pairbeing in contact with the large roll of the other pair, and the drivemechanism arranged to turn the small rolls faster than the large ones,substantially as set forth.

WALTER '1. FORBES.

Witnesses:

JOHN ALDREDGER, JAs. O. STURGES.

